After English and Spanish, business is my third language. At first, I did not recognize it as such; I considered finance, accounting, management, and marketing to be mere skill sets. As my undergraduate years progressed, I uncovered the innumerable linkages among those disciplines, and I ultimately realized that my Wharton education was providing me with a new lens through which to interpret the world—in short, a new language.

My academic experience transcended the boundaries of the classroom, for the language of business is spoken everywhere. I proactively sought out unique internship opportunities, which included coordinating an on-campus marketing program for Atlantic Records, helping to develop fund-raising strategies for Bill Bradley’s presidential campaign, and working for a start-up search engine at the height of the dot-com bubble. Through such experiences, it became clear that my knowledge of business could help me to better appreciate music, politics, technology, and other personal interests.

Anita Roddick once asserted that “the language of business is not the language of the soul or the language of humanity. It’s a language of indifference . . . of separation, of secrecy, of hierarchy.” Nevertheless, as a student in the Huntsman Program in International Studies and Business, I took several courses in public policy and international relations that enabled me to frame my business education in a global context and to understand the ways in which economic policy affects societal welfare. Through courses such as Globalization and Human Rights, which examined how multinational corporations impact developing countries, I learned that business can indeed be the language of humanity.

My experiences during a semester abroad in Chile reinforced this point. There, I interviewed the heads of over fifteen water utilities to investigate how the ongoing privatization of the sector was affecting the price and availability of clean water. Working with a microcredit organization, I helped the patrons of an urban homeless shelter to find financing for an entrepreneurial venture. At every opportunity, I engaged with the community, relying on the common language of business when my less-than-perfect Spanish failed me.

Upon graduation from Penn, I chose to begin my career in private equity, where I felt I would have the optimal resources to further my study of business. Going forward, I seek to enroll in HBS in order to learn from and share my experiences with professors and peers who speak different dialects of the same brilliant language.

Analysis

This essay is striking for its effective thematic use of the “language of business.” The opening sentence could be cliché, but in the first few paragraphs the author elegantly explains why business is “the lens” through which he views the world. A word of advice to applicants: if you are going to use imagery to explain your point of view, ensure that you take a few words to explain why this image is relevant. Remember, you are not trying to win a Pulitzer Prize; you are trying to explain to the admissions committee why you are a good candidate for Harvard Business School.

The author of this essay is also successful at highlighting interesting experiences in his undergraduate education that both add color to his personality and distinguish him from other Wharton undergrads. Having marketed for Atlantic Records, raised funds for Bill Bradley, and worked on clean-water issues in Chile, the applicant portrays himself as someone who has made the most of a diverse set of opportunities. Wouldn’t you want to get to know this person better? Finally, the concluding paragraph of this essay provides a nice connection between the author’s undergraduate experiences and interest in HBS. It’s definitely not necessary, but reinforces the relevance of the essay.

From 65 Successful Harvard Business School Application Essays edited by the Staff of the Harvard Crimson. Copyright (c) 2009 by the authors and reprinted by permission of St. Martin's Publishing Group